Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same

• US 6,240,080 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Okanoue, Kazuhiro, Osawa, Tomoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US09/129,527
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/243, 709/227, 370/448, 370/338, 370/462, 370/445, 370/447, 340/825.5
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile terminal and method of controlling the same, each that can integrally move between an infrastructure network and an ad hoc network. The mobile terminal can interconnect to an infrastructure network and an ad hoc network while moving. In an address management process, a connection network identification process, and a destination address capture process which are needed to establish communications with the terminal connected to a network, an infrastructure network connection procedure is integrated with an ad hoc network connection procedure. The integrated configuration consists of an ad hoc/ infrastructure network address management means, an ad hoc/ infrastructure integration move management means, an ad hoc/ infrastructure network integration destination address capture means. In each process, it is identified whether or not the mobile terminal is connected to an ad hoc network or infrastructure network, so that the procedure corresponding to the connected network is used.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

providing information to a first mobile terminal connected to an ad hoc network, which is a temporary network configured of only plural terminals, wherein another mobile terminal starts up a random timer in response to an information request from a mobile terminal, wherein said random timer allows only a terminal which has a first time-out of the random timer to supply information over the ad hoc network;

controlling a mobile terminal by another mobile terminal, wherein upon detection of a time-out of the random timer by a detecting mobile terminal, the detecting mobile terminal broadcasts an information supply message which ceases the random timer of each of the mobile terminals which have started up a random timer.

2. A mobile terminal controlling method including a procedure of providing information to a mobile terminal, said mobile terminal being connected to an ad hoc network which is a temporary network configured of only plural terminals, comprising the steps of:

a. broadcasting an information requesting message to all mobile terminals connected to said ad hoc network by means of a first mobile terminal connected to an ad hoc network;

b. starting up a random timer by means of each of said mobile terminals configuring said ad hoc network which receives said information requesting message, said random timer measuring a random time;

c. broadcasting an information supply message corresponding to said information requesting message to all mobile terminals connected to said ad hoc network by means of a mobile terminal in which time-out of said random timer has occurred among mobile terminals which have started up said random timer;

d. ceasing said random timer when each of said mobile terminals which have started up said random timer receives said information supply message and then stopping said information supply message from being transmitted.

3. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

providing information from a terminal with a shortest ad hoc network connection time when information is provided to a first mobile terminal connected to said ad hoc network, which is a temporary network configured of only plural terminals; and

controlling a mobile terminal by another mobile terminal, wherein upon detection of a time-out of the random timer by a detecting mobile terminal, the detecting mobile terminal broadcasts an information supply message which ceases the random timer of each of the mobile terminals which have started up a random timer.

4. A mobile terminal controlling method including a procedure of providing information to a mobile terminal, said mobile terminal being connected to an ad hoc network which is a temporary network configured of only plural terminals, comprising the steps of:

a. broadcasting an information request message to all mobile terminals connected to an ad hoc network by means of a first mobile terminal connected to said ad hoc network;

b. determining an ad hoc network connection time based on a time connected to said ad hoc network and a time at which said information requesting message has been received, by means of each of mobile terminals configuring said ad hoc network which has received said information request message;

c. starting up a timer that measures a time according to a period of time for which a mobile terminal is connected to said ad hoc network;

d. broadcasting a response message corresponding to said information requesting message when time-out of said timer has occurred, and ceasing said timer; and

e. halting said timer when a response message is received to said information requesting message during an operation of said timer.